Keeping Llamas

Llamas
are herd animals and a lone llama would be a very unhappy creature
indeed. Prospective new owners need to consider purchasing at least
a pair of llamas, therefore, unless the llama is to live with suitable
companion animals such as alpacas. Llamas are quite a bit larger
than alpacas, but both are camelids, and as such their basic requirements
are very similar.

Llamas
are for the most part very intelligent, gentle animals, with highly
individual personalities. In general male llamas tend to take a
greater interest in humans, with female llamas being perhaps slightly
more aloof. Male llamas are more commonly used for their trekking,
packing and guarding skills. Female llamas usually make naturally
very good mothers and both sexes can provide fine wool for hand-spinners.

Llamas
make delightful field pets, needing free-draining ground, a basic
field shelter and a simple handling facility. Fencing should exclude
barbed wire and may need to be a little higher than average. Some
dry hardstanding will also be appreciated by your llama and it helps
to keep his toe nails trimmed!

Llamas
are intelligent animals, and most have a gentle curious temperament,
responding well to basic training and handling. Once taught to accept
a halter and lead rope, a willing receptive llama can then be taught
to carry a pack, to go on short treks, and even to pull a simple
cart. Some llamas can be encouraged to become guard llamas, protecting
against foxes, dogs and other predators. A guard llama will look
after the young cria in the herd, but may also be used to protect
young lambs and chickens against foxes, especially if he has been
raised in the company of these animals. A llama can be a useful
addition to a herd of unruly alpacas, where the llama assumes the
role of leader of the pack. Care should always be taken when introducing
a new llama to a dog, even if the dog is already used to llamas
and alpacas. Most can learn to co-exist quite happily, but in the
first instance, the llama will see the dog as a natural enemy or
threat.